Author's Note: Konnichiwa~ Rakurai desu~
I'm so sorry for the late update. Last week was the most busy week I've ever had so I can only finished this chapter. 'A Remedy Behind A Lethal Dose' will have to wait. I don't think I've ever taken so many headache medicine in my life. (╯︵╰,)
Again, if there are any grammatical errors, I'm truly sorry. English is not my native language so there's nothing I can do about them. However, if there are any errors, feel free to tell them to me.
There were no research required for this chap.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own anything other than the storyline.
Please enjoy!
The sound of birds cheeping was the first thing Nozomi heard when she was still deep in her slumber. The distant, pleasant chirping sound was so soothing, Nozomi felt like her whole being was levitating in the Void of Eden, cleansed and purified. In the celestial plane of the Gods, Nozomi found supreme felicity filling her soul. The very feeling of delight held her in its tender embrace, making her never wanted to leave.
However, as quickly as the feelings came, they were disrupted by a distant calling, she was awakened by Nico's and the others' frantic cries.
"Nozomi!" Nico shouted out in sheer relief.
"Nozomi-chan! Thank God, you're finally awake!" Hanayo wailed.
"Everyone was so worried, nya! We thought you wouldn't wake up, nya!" Rin remarked.
"Everyone…" Nozomi was overwhelmed with astonishment, but somewhere in her mixed feelings existed an unknown feeling of happiness.
After Nozomi was bombarded with their constant questioning regarding her health, her eyes landed on Maki who was leaning against the far corner of the carriage. Nozomi greeted her with a smile, while Maki too did the same with a nod. Then, Nico pulled her attention back to the boisterous trio who have been circling around her the whole time.
"You've been unconscious for days, Nozomi. Luckily, Maki-chan was well-versed in healing and herbalism or whatever they call it and she patched you up nice and neat." Nico relayed details of what happened during the time she was unconscious.
That sudden change in name calling and honorifics didn't go unnoticed by Nozomi though. Maki-chan, huh…? As a result of that, Nozomi smirked at Nico without voicing what was currently going through her mind. Of course, Nico immediately cringed at the sight of that all knowing smirk, she is without a clue what Nozomi is smirking about.
"W-What?"
"Nothing~! Just thinking that you've made quite a drastic change, haven't you, Nicocchi?"
"What? I have no idea what you're going on about." Nico was disconcerted.
"You'll understand afterwards, Nicocchi. And when you do, you'll thank me later." Nozomi hummed in a sing-song voice.
"Haa? Thank you? Why the hell would the great Nico Nii condescend to something so unworthy of her for you? You should be grateful that I'm still here, looking after you all wounded and helpless in bed while-"
"I removed the arrow along with others' aid in the removing process. Also, since I managed to find some herbs that can help numb the wound, you won't feel much pain right now. That arrow had stuck considerably deep so you'll need to rest for a month or more to completely heal. If you don't move too much, the wound will heal, but it will leave you with restriction. Your muscle won't be as flexible so I'd suggest you stay put in one place." Maki advised, completely ignoring Nico's usual melodrama.
"Of course, thank you for your brief prescription, Maki-chan. I'll try to keep my movement to a minimum." Nozomi smiled at her.
Seemingly satisfied that Nozomi heeded her advice willingly, Maki nodded with a small smile and turned around, dragging Nico who was throwing a fit of pique along with her. It was time for their usual round of scouting the woods. Before Nico was out of the door, she didn't forget to leave Nozomi with an instruction.
"Nozomi! If that blond-haired thief show up here, remember to call out for Hanayo or Rin, alright? They'll be right outside! Don't let that vixen go near you!"
Her voice still echoed from far away as Maki dragged her away. Nozomi chuckled to herself as she thinks about them. Meanwhile, Hanayo and Rin was already at the doorstep as well.
"We'll be making dinner now. If there's anything you need at all, just call us, okay Nozomi-chan?" Hanayo reminded her.
"Okay, don't worry Hanayo-chan, Rin-chan. I'll be just fine." And with that, they both left.
As the peaceful silence of the night has once again engulfed her in its tranquil atmosphere, Nozomi found herself staring out the window in her comfy little carriage. The place was dimly lit with a small wax candle on the nightstand next to her bed, so it was natural half of the room was enveloped in darkness. Nozomi welcomed the darkness with a small smile on her face as she hummed a melody on impulse.
Then, she can feel the stillness in the air has changed when the fire on the candle suddenly flickered for a mere moment. At that, she stopped her spontaneous melody and laughed lightly at a certain corner of the room. At first glance, there was nothing there, but then a shadow started to emerge from it, slowly becoming more vivid. Yet, the shadow decided to stay put in one place.
"To what do I owe the honour of your visit?" Nozomi spoke up first, breaking the tension that was settling in.
The shadow wouldn't budged. Nevertheless, a voice still came from it.
"I only wish to see if you're fine and to apologise for what had happened, Nozomi-san."
"You know you can just come here, sit down and talk to me normally, right Eli-san?" Nozomi laughed lightly.
"I thought your friend wouldn't allowed me to be anywhere near you, Nozomi-san?"
"Oh, don't let what she says get to you. She only meant well, though her ways of expressing them is a bit much." Nozomi chuckled.
"I see…" Eli finally decided to settle down on a wooden chair next to Nozomi's bed. A gloomy expression clouded her face as she's seemed to be agonizing with profound guilt.
"I don't blame you for what had happened, Eli-san. It's only natural to want to protect something you cherish. And from what I've learned from the spirits, they're your precious, irreplaceable brethren, isn't it?" Nozomi smiled at her.
Eli was astounded as she stared at Nozomi speechlessly. When faced with such a mysterious person who seemed to know all even though she haven't said a single word, Eli was profusely discomposed.
"Nozomi-san, what-" Eli started.
"Just Nozomi is fine, Eli-san." Nozomi beamed at her.
Her unanticipated interruption caught Eli completely off guard, causing her to become even more disconcerted.
"We only wanted to bring peace to the village. You may not know since you were kept in the dark, but your brothers and sisters have been oppressing the people in this village to their own personal pleasures. I once witnessed one burly man, who seemed to be one of your brethren, beaten a family into a bloody pulp just because they couldn't afford his unreasonably high tax demand. And Nicocchi's sisters too. If I hadn't saved them, Gods know where or what they are now."
The smile from before has vanished from Nozomi's features. Now in its place was a solemn and anguished expression. Granted that Eli too held the same facial expression as Nozomi does, however, in compared to Nozomi's stinging reprimand was Eli's silence. She held her head low, her face partly hidden due to the darkness in the room.
"If you're wondering why I seem to know everything then I'll answer that question for you." Eli flinched. "It wasn't magic or anything. And I was just joking about the spirits. It's actually not that easy to contact them, to be honest… your very own brethren said it all."
"What…?" Eli was shocked at her own voice when she finally speaks out loud. It was so hoarse, she can hardly believe it's her voice.
"Nicocchi told me one time when she came back from the regular trip in the woods. She told me when she was sneaking around a dozen of bandits, she overheard them talking about you." Nozomi glanced out the window once again, her eyes distinctly distant.
"…" Eli's breathing hitched at the suspense.
"She said they were laughing hysterically at how lenient and how easy it was to manipulate you. All they had to do was lying about some deer they killed in the forest and brought back the "meat" that they've hunted that day to your dining table. Nicocchi was furious at what they say, but at you too, all because she was blinded by her rage."
"…" A look of terror slowly crept its way onto her features, Eli inadvertently gripped Nozomi's blanket as if that was the only string of hope she has left. Unfortunately, she was only grasping at straws as she can feel the wave of nausea sweeping through her repetitively and mercilessly.
Upon Eli's terror-stricken state, Nozomi closed her mouth and looked at her with a melancholy expression. Even someone like her is not that callous. She really didn't want to say those things because she knows, if she was to continue, the fragile person in front of her will shatter into a thousand pieces.
Right at this very moment, the woman in front of her isn't some infamous thief that has struck terror into the hearts of people here anymore. Rather, she was just an ordinary person who was played for a fool by her own brethren. It wouldn't take a genius to discern Eli's state right now, her shoulders were shaking uncontrollably in plain sight for Nozomi to see; despite the fact that the room was dimly lit.
In her desperate attempt of fighting back her tears, Eli tried to sustain herself over and over but no matter what she does, the tears keep on threatening to fall. When suddenly, a hand gently patted her head repeatedly. Eli slowly raised her head up with wide eyes and sapphire met emerald. She gasped when she realized what she just did. As quickly as she could, Eli tried to turn her head away when those same gentle hands firmly held her head in place, preventing any evasion from her.
A look of fear swept over her when she was faced with such close proximity with Nozomi. Meanwhile, Nozomi unpredictably brought a hand up and covered Eli's bright blue eyes that gleamed in the dark. Shocked and bemused at the same time, Eli still tried to open her mouth to protest when Nozomi murmured in a low voice, enough for the both of them to hear.
"If you're afraid of people finding out about your weakness then it's okay if I cover your eyes like this right, Eli-san?"
Eli closed her mouth as absolute darkness combined with the soothing warmth emitting from Nozomi's hand gradually encasing her. As much as she didn't think she should be, Eli found herself listening for Nozomi's voice as she whispered to Eli once more.
"You can let them fall, Eli-san. No one will know you're crying. Not even me."
"How can you be so sure…? You're only covering my eyes, aren't you?"
"How can I know if I can't see your eyes?" A chuckle came from Nozomi.
So that's why you're covering them… preventing yourself from seeing my tears, huh… Eli forced a chuckle. Before she could control it, the tears have already fallen. And just like that, they stayed in the same position ever since, with Eli silently crying and Nozomi concealing her eyes for her. Even if she can't see, she can tell. The dampness inside the palm of her hand tells it all.
After what felt like forever crying silently into Nozomi's hand, Eli finally managed to calm herself down. When she finished, Nozomi handed her a light purple handkerchief which she gladly accepted.
"Thank you, Nozomi."
"Your welcome, Eli-san." Nozomi smiled kindly at her.
At this though, Eli furrowed her brows, slightly disgruntled at the formal treatment Nozomi is giving her.
"Don't call me that."
"Huh?" Nozomi quizzically looked at her.
"Just call me whatever you want." Eli softly whispered.
The abnormal request from Eli caught Nozomi completely off guard this time as she really did not expect someone like her to be so friendly so soon. Nevertheless, Nozomi still take Eli up on her affectionate request.
"All right then. How about… Elichi?" Nozomi amusedly laughed.
Eli's eyes went so wide, they nearly bulged. In all her years of living, other than her family, no one has ever call her with such a cute nickname before. Little does Nozomi know how much it means to her, but Eli doesn't plan on letting her find out anyways.
"Of course, you're more than welcome to, Nozomi!" Eli smiled handsomely at her.
Nozomi smiled warmly at her. Then, as a new idea came upon her, she immediately asked Eli for it.
"Oh, before I forget, would you mind if I asked you for a favour, Elichi?"
Eli confusedly arched an eyebrow at her while Nozomi only chuckled.
"I'm worried about Nozomi. Maybe we should head back."
Nico fidgeted for umpteenth time in her spot as she was leaning against a tree trunk. Maki glanced at her with an apathetic look. Not that she didn't care, it's just that Nico has been like this continuously for the last hour. Every time they stop to take a rest or if they spotted some suspicious potential danger, Nico would ask the same thing over and again.
Frankly, Maki was showing some kind of empathy initially. Nonetheless, she found herself slowly drained of empathetic emotions after an hour with Nico and her importunate demand of returning. If she could go back by herself, she would have ages ago. Even more so when hearing Nico's irritating 'impact' that she makes about herself every fifteen minutes is starting to numb her senses of being normal.
"Maki-chan, can I talk to you about something…?" Nico's voice was strangely softer than usual.
Although she seemed nonchalant about it, Maki did notice the odd change in Nico's tone, along with that honorific calling of her name. Notwithstanding, Maki still braced herself for another melodrama from her. Having preparing for that though, Maki can discern the glum expression shadowing Nico's face.
Brushing a bush aside, the two of them came upon what seem to be a large calming stream. The moonlight gleams on the water surface as it reflects the images of the red-head princess and the raven-haired rogue. Within that magical scenery was the sound of crickets resonating in the background, engulfing the two in its melodic hum.
"I wanted to thank you for coming to Nozomi's aid."
"You've asked me to." Maki stared at the stream. "Besides, I wanted you to know I'm not like the other nobles. I've figured you wouldn't listen to me even if I told you, so what better ways to express it other than action?"
"You're probably right. I wouldn't listen, that's for sure." Nico hesitated mid-sentence. "But now… I know. And I wanted to say thank you anyways."
"You're welcome…" Maki awkwardly answered.
Silence descended upon them after Maki finished her sentence. As minutes pass by, Maki can feel herself getting more uneasy and flustered. Not that she didn't enjoy this strange company, it's just that she was struggling on finding what to say. Then, as soon as a vague idea pop into her mind, she grabbed onto it like it's her only glimmer of hope in getting out of this awkward situation.
"I think what you did back then was very admirable. Worrying for Nozomi's well-being that is."
"That so? Isn't that normal for you three?" Nico asked.
"Maybe for us, but I've never seen anyone else other than Rin and Hanayo who care so much about someone else other than themselves. Most people are selfish, they think only of their own." Maki remarked.
"That's true. In my case, most of those people are nobles. I think that's why I hold such prejudice against them, not to mention the way they treat me and my family."
For the first time, Maki looked at Nico's face and she felt like she was captivated by Nico's features. A carefully hidden aspect that was enshrouded in Nico unexpectedly revealed itself to Maki. Was she always this cute? She thought to herself. This pure…?
"I wouldn't blame you. Truth be told, your initial behaviour towards me was understandable. If I was in your position, I'll probably hate all nobles too… actually, I already am…"
Maki kept staring at Nico intensely. She does not know the reason for why she does it. It was as if her body has taken control of her, like it is a very natural thing. Part of Maki understood every word Nico had said, not only that but she also empathized with Nico. She was one of them, yet to say that she hate them was an understatement. Maki despises them to the very core of her soul, for they has taken the most important person in her life away from her.
If her mother had not helped guide Maki in opening her heart to her mother then she will probably never regard nobles as proper human beings anymore. Consequentially, Maki never thought she would find solace in Nico. In spite of that, she still feel like it is a given that comfort could be found in Nico. A very natural feeling that she felt herself welcoming it.
"So, you understand how I feel, then?"
"Yes, I do." Maki whole-heartedly answered.
There was so much intensity and honesty in that answer that Nico wouldn't dare speak. She felt that she would say something profoundly imprudent, which is why she has chosen to keep her mouth shut. A whole full minute passed by and still no actions or whatsoever from the both of them. All that they've been doing since Maki's declamation was looking at the stream.
"I once had a very important person in my life that I thought I could never live without her." Maki suddenly broke the silence and Nico perplexedly glanced at her.
"I used to think that the world was in its rightful place and that nothing will ever happen to us." There was a long pause in her story, "but then it happened."
"The nobles, whom you hate so much, took that person away from me. Even with every ounce of strength and power I hold, I could not save her from the filthy grasp of those nobles."
Maki's eyes became downcast, she did not care if she was showing her weakness to Nico. Because as from the moment Maki had witnessed what kind of person she was truly like, Nico has become somewhat of an existence that is trustworthy to her.
"I'm sorry for your loss, Maki-chan… and for assuming you were like the rest of them…" Nico patted Maki's shoulder, hoping that it would give her some kind of encouragement.
"It's fine. It had already been two years." Maki smiled at herself. "I'm perfectly fine."
Despite putting on a tough front, Maki knows she can't hide it from Nico. A single tear fell from her eyes as she looked at the stream. Unexpectedly, Nico gripped Maki's shoulder tightly, causing her to wince and tugged her down to Nico's height. Maki was about to retort but halted mid-way when a soft, chaste kiss was pressed against her cheek. Hence, her eyes went as wide as it could.
The kiss lasted for a mere ten seconds and ended. When Nico let go, Maki tried to search her face for any kind of answers but she herself was confounded due to Nico's sudden intimate action. As soon as it ended, Nico quickly distanced herself from Maki and fidgeted in her spot.
"Take that as comfort to your wound and as my thanks for helping Nozomi."
With that, Nico left, leaving a stunned Maki behind. Nico trotted away as quickly as she could, her face flushed bright red. As for Maki, she stood there petrified while staring after Nico's retreating figure. Only after a couple of seconds passed by did she managed to bring her hand up to her face and touched that same spot on her cheek where Nico had kissed her.
The small log crackled in the bonfire as Rin threw in another one. Both her and Hanayo has been sitting outside of Nozomi's carriage for more than an hour and it has dawned on her that Nozomi might be asleep by now. As it happens, Rin needed this rare time alone with Hanayo to sorted things out.
It's not that she wanted Nozomi not to ask for help when she require it, but because Rin hardly get any chance alone with Hanayo, ever since they arrived here. Surprisingly, Rin found this new group of friends, a great way of distracting her from what she's supposed to deal with. She knows that doing so is no different than being a coward. She knows. Be that as it may, she just couldn't bring herself to face Hanayo, especially after that night when she rescued her.
"Tonight is quite pleasant, isn't it Rin-chan?" Hanayo's voice startled Rin.
"Y-Yeah." A half-hearted answer came from her.
"It seems that Nozomi-chan doesn't need any help, after all. Right, Rin-chan?"
"Yeah."
Sweats began rolling down Hanayo's face. She blinked at Rin, who is now wearing a vacant expression.
"It's already been more than an hour. Maki-chan and Nico-chan sure is taking their time, huh…" Hanayo stared absentmindedly at the woods from her seat close to the bonfire. "Don't you think we should go find them, Rin-chan?"
"You can stop now, Kayo-chin. I know what you're trying to do. I know I may be stupid but not so stupid as to not notice what you're doing." Rin stared impassively at the fire.
"Rin-chan…" Hanayo glanced her way with a worried expression.
If anyone of their friends take one look at them now, they would probably concluded that they were in a cold war or at least some kind of inconspicuous fighting. In all honesty, they have been like this ever since they got to the forest. Rin remembered how it even affected Maki too, back when she said how uneasy she was while traveling with the two of them.
Maki did raise the question as to why they were so quiet back then. You two were always talkative whenever you're together, what happen to make the both of you so quiet? Maki asked Rin that one time as she was helping with dinner while Hanayo made rice with Nozomi.
Although Maki knew what the reason were, she thought what happened before has been resolved. However, after that night when she rescued Hanayo, the matter about their relationship problem escalated into something even worse than that. Now, Rin doesn't even have the courage to look Hanayo in the eye anymore; let alone talking to her.
All in all, Rin was scared of what Hanayo might say if she were to explain what she had meant ever since that day. Picking up a stick, Rin exasperatedly poked at the bonfire. On Hanayo's side, she can tell how distraught Rin was, judging from how gloomy she looked.
"Rin-chan." Hanayo has to go for it. It's now or never.
Rin glanced towards Hanayo's direction with a defeated expression.
"It's okay if you don't want to say it now, Rin-chan. You don't have to do it if you're not ready."
Standing up from the tree trunk she has been sitting on, Hanayo walked to where Rin was and knelt down in front of her, grabbing both of Rin's hand. Meanwhile, Rin was a combination of shock and bewilderment.
"Rin-chan, I can tell you have something that you wanted me to know, to understand. And it's not easy to do so because it's something even you can't completely control nor comprehend. Even so, I want you to know this, Rin-chan…" Hanayo closed her eyes, as if looking for the right word.
"If you're not ready to talk to me about it then it's okay to postpone it, Rin-chan. Just take your time, as much as you needed. Don't force yourself to do something you aren't ready for. I'll wait for you until you're ready. It doesn't matter how long to me, as long as you can find a solution to your problem and come talk to me about it, okay Rin-chan?"
Rin stared at Hanayo in utter astonishment. She really didn't anticipate such encouragement from the one person who is almost incapable of encouraging other people. Yet, that is what makes Hanayo's encouragement all the more special. That was all it takes to make Rin feel alive and motivated again.
"Do you really mean it, Kayo-chin? No matter how long? You'll wait for me, nya?" Rin gripped Hanayo's hand, a worried yet relieved expression now adorned her face.
"That's right, Rin-chan. No matter how long, I'll wait for you." Hanayo smiled reassuringly at her.
For the first time ever since their escape, Rin never felt as happy as right now. She put on the biggest grin she has and shouted a vigorous 'Nya!' to the sky, whereupon Rin felt like a large weight has been lifted off her heart.
Author's Note: I didn't think writing for three otps in one chap will put such a toll on my imagination specifically and my head generally. I'm having another headache so please understand for me if there are errors, I couldn't possibly bring myself to check them while my head hurts like crazy.
If you find this story to your liking then by all means tell me all about it. Comments and reviews about the story is most welcomed. Thank you!
Until next time, Rakurai deshita~!
